Apparatus for comminuting and corroding lead



(No Model.)

E. A. WEB'STBRS: L. 0. GIBBS. APPARATUS POR GOMMINUTING AND GORRODING LEAD* No. 406,378. Patented July 2, 1889..

"Rm A ATTEST:

INVENTORSI Nrran STATES vATENT OFFICE.

EDIVARD A: IVEBSTER AND LUCIUS O. GIBBS, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

APPARATUS FOR COMMINUTING AND CORRODING LEAD.

SPECIFICATION forming' part Of Letters Patent NO. 406,378, dated July 2, 1889.' Application iilecl April 2, 1888. Serial No. 269,350. (No model.)

To all whom z't may concern:

Beit known that we, EDWARD A. XVEBSTER and LUcIUs O. GIBBS, citizens of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Comminuting and Corroding Lead; and we do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the sam e, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification.

This invention relates to that type of attrition or comminuting cylinders employed in the manufacture of white-lead pigment directly from the metallic lead, in what Yis known in the art as the Versepuy process, and in which small particles of metallic lead are introduced into a revolving drum or cylinder that slowly turns to cause an attrition of the lead particles upon each other until roduced to a pulp, air or oxygen gas, as well as carbonio acid gas, being introduced in proper quantities into the interior of the drum to oxidize and carbonate the pulp and convert it into a white carbonate-of-lead pigment; and the object of the present improvement is to provide an improved construction of revolving' drum or cylinder for such purpose, embodying the features of easy access to the material being operated upon for examination from time to time without stopping the machinery, perfect ventilation,

so as to regulate and reduce the heat natural to the chemical action taking place in the apparatus, as well as the regulation of the air admitted to the apparatus. Ve attain such objects by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a transverse section of a comminuting-cylinder to which our improvements areapplied; Fig. 2, a longitudinal section of the same; and Fig. 3, a detail elevation of the endless band-track surrounding the cylinder, showing the means for tightening the same.

Similar letters of reference indicate like parts in the several view.

Referring to the drawings, A represents the drum or cylinder formed of staves hooked together by bands a and provided with heads B, as shown, the whole being provided with an incorrodible earthenware lining C, formed with longitudinal ridges c, that act to lift the particles of lead to effect a more extended attrition of the particles among themselves. The cylinder A is shaftless, and is supported by and rotated between pairs of roller D D', journaled in the Hoor-timbers D2, as shown, motion being communicated to the cylinder through the forward set D of such rollers. Each head B is formed with a central orifice 6o B', that is closed bya removable dooror manhead E, secured in place in the rabbeted re-- cess in the head by means of turn-buttons e, or other equivalent means, so that either or both of such mau-heads can be readily removed to admit of a ventilation of the cylinder or an inspection of the material while undergoing treatment. The feature of a shaftless cylinder with axial or central openings in the heads thereof is the material part 7o of the present invention, in that as so constructed it effects the following important results in the mode-of operation of the apparatus: The material While under treatment can be inspected through the man-hole without stopping the apparatus; that the requisite amount of oxygen for the chemical changes which take place is drawn from the surrounding air, thereby avoiding the use of suction or forcing devices, and the air thus 8o taken prevents the material subjected to-treatment from becoming unduly heated, as the drafts th ro ugh the apparatus carry with them any excess of heat, such inspection consisting in the introduction of a ladle to remove 8.; a quantity of the material for close inspection, and chemical examination, if necessary, as well the introduction of the hand or head to closely inspect the Whole body of' material, while the apparatus is in operation, such ac- 9o cess being feasible on account of the size of the apparatus, which will have a usual diameter of five feet, with man-holes twenty inches in diameter, more or less, in accordance with the circumstances, size, and capacity of the plant.

yF are a series of register-openings through the man-heads, through which air is admitted to the material being operated upon to furnish the required amount of oxygen to eifect roo the proper oxidation of the same; and in order to regulate and control the amount of air admitted these openings are provided With adjustable slides or covers F', by which the areas of the openings are regulated.

G is the induction-pipe for the carbonicacid gas employed in converting the material undergoing treatment into a carbonate. This pipe passes horizontally through one of the heads, and extends into the cylinder A, axially to or near the middle of the same, its end being open. lith this construction the gas is evenly distributed to all portions of the material.

The bands a a, that form the endless track for the cylinder, are formed with lapped tongues a a', as shown `in Fig. 3, and the ends are connected together adj ustably by tightening-bolts a2 a2, arranged to pass through laterally-arran ged lu gs or ears a3 a3 upon the bands. As so arranged, the adjusting mechanism a? a3 Will not project into the path of the carrying-rollers D D', but will pass at the sides of the same. A substantially similar provision will be made in connection with the other hoops of the cylinder to take up any slack that may occur in the same.

llaving thus fully described our invention, whatwe claim as new, and desire to secure by Lett-ers Patent, is-

l. An apparatus for corroding and comminuting lead in the Versepuy mode of manufacturing white lead, the same consisting of a shaftless cylinder or drum supported on carrying-rollers and provided with axial openings or man-holes, essentially as set forth.

2. An apparatus for corroding and comminuting lead in the Versepuy mode of manufacturing white lead, comprising, in combination, a shaftless cylinder or drum supported on carrying-rollers, a lining C for the same provided with longitudinal ribs, an axially- 4o arranged gas-introducing tube extending to or near the middle of the cylinder, and axiallyarranged removable man-heads E, closing central man-holes in the cylinder-heads and adapted to permit of the inspection, &c., ot' the 45 material during the rotation of the cylinder, essentially as described, and for the purpose set forth.

3. An apparatus for corroding and comminuting lead in the Versepuy mode of manu- 5o facturing White lead, comprising, in combination, a shaftless cylinder or drum supporteth on carrying-rollers, a lining C for the same provided with longitudinal ribs c, an axiallyarranged gas-introducing tube extending to or near the middle of the cylinder, and removable man-heads closing central man-holes in both the heads of the cylinder and provided with a series of adjustable openings, essentially as described, and for the purpose set 6o forth.

4. An apparatus for commin uting and corroding lead, consisting of a sha-ftless cylinder or drum supported on carrying-rollers and provided with band-tracks a d, having lapped tongues a' a', laterally-arranged lugs a a, and tightening-bolts a2 a2, as described, and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof Witness our hands this Q-l-.th day of March, 1888.

EDWARD A. VEBSIER. LUCIUS O.v GlBlSS.

In presence of- ROBERT BURNS, GEORGE II. ARTHUR. 

